The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
27-12, 3-3
Oklahoma
36-5, 9-0
Softball loses series finale to No. 5 Oklahoma, 4-0
04.11.2015 | Softball
REMINDER: there is no longer a Sunday game scheduled between the Longhorns and Sooners
AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday afternoon in front of 1,085 fans at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 5 Oklahoma (36-5, 9-0 Big 12 Conference) completed a league series sweep of Texas (27-12, 3-3 Big 12), 4-0.
As a special reminder, there is no longer be a Sunday game scheduled at Noon CT between Texas and Oklahoma as the three-game series has now concluded. For refund information, if you pre-bought Sunday tickets, please read the info at this LINK or at the bottom of this release.
UT freshman starter Erica Wright pitched well in falling to 11-6 on the year, allowing just one earned run on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 4.0 innings of work. Sophomore pitcher Tiarra Davis returned to the circle for the first time since being injured against Charlotte on March 7, permitting one earned tally on one run with three walks and a K during a single frame. Senior reliever Gabby Smith tossed 2.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Junior catcher Erin Shireman (1-for-2) and junior second baseman Stephanie Ceo (1-for-3) registered Texas' base knocks in the contest.
Walks issued to shortstop Shelby Pendley and right fielder Erin Miller got the Sooners in immediate business with two outs in the top of the first. A wild pitch, with second baseman Georgia Casey at the plate, moved both runners into scoring position. With the count at 2-2, Wright induced a pop-up to shallow right center. Ceo drifted back well onto the outfield grass and turned all the way around before making a diving "web gem"-style basket catch on the blooper to keep Oklahoma off the scoreboard.
Free passes played a major role in the Longhorns getting their own threat underway in the bottom half of the first as sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning and sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong started the game by drawing consecutive four-pitch walks. OU made the decision to go to Friday's game one winner in the circle in relief, Paige Parker. That decision paid immediate dividends as the freshman retired the first three batters she faced to end an eventful opening frame.
After missing out on a chance in the first, Oklahoma grabbed the lead in the second as left fielder Kady Self blasted a one-out solo HR to left to make it 1-0.
Ceo managed Texas' initial hit of the contest with one retired in the bottom of the third on a perfect bunt single out in front of the plate. After a Wong sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk of junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens put two on base, Parker registered her fourth strikeout of the contest as UT's left stranded total grew to four.
Texas got the lead-off on for the second time in the game starting the fourth as Shireman blooped a single over short and onto the grass in left. Once again, Parker refused to let the Horns string anything together as a pop-up, a fly ball and a foul out down the right field line left the runner at first.
The top of the fifth brought a welcome sight for Longhorns fans as sophomore pitcher Davis made her return to the circle for the first time since suffering an injury against Charlotte on March 7. Unfortunately, OU's offense managed to string together a pair of free passes and a RBI single through the left side to take a 2-0 advantage.
Self's second HR of the match-up, a solo shot to left center off reliever Smith, expanded the Sooner advantage to 3-0 in the top of the sixth.
Trying to ignite any sort of UT rally, Shireman battled Parker for a two-out walk in the sixth. Unfortunately, a pop-up with freshman pinch runner Alyssa Angel at first finished off the sixth with OU holding its three-run lead.
Shelby Pendley finalized the score at 4-0 in the top of the seventh by driving OU's third solo HR of the game over the right field wall.
Sunday Ticketing Refund Info
With the game having been played on Saturday (no game on Sunday):
Season ticket holders with Sunday tickets will be able to obtain a GA ticket for a future game.
Single game ticket purchasers with Sunday tickets will have the option to:
Contact the ticket office during regular business hours to obtain a full refund; OR
Present their Sunday game ticket at the box office to attend a future game
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Parker, Paige (18-3)
L: Wright, Erica (11-6)
Batting:
HR: Pendley, Shelby 1 ; Self, Kady 2
RBI: Pendley, Shelby 1 ; Miller, Erin 1 ; Self, Kady 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Chamberlain, Lauren 1 ; Pendley, Shelby 1 ; Self, Kady 2
Batting:
SH: Wong, Stephanie 1
Base Running:
HBP: Leahy, Randel 1
PO: Leahy, Randel 1
